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Robocode Rumble - Java-Battle-Bot League

Posted by timothy on from the virtually-virtual dept.

jsse writes: "Robocode is a game that teaches you Java while you build killer Java-Battle-Bots that fight each other to the death in an arena. The newest Robocode league in town, Robocode Rumble has just been launched. It's a joint effort by alphaWorks and developerWorks. If you're just getting started with Robocode, don't miss "Rock 'em, sock 'em Robocode!" An excellent hands-on starter. In addition "Secrets from the Robocode masters" a collection of tips from the experts, presents more advanced techniques and strategies to help destroy all and be the Java-Battle-Bot King. Previous slashdot story on Robocode can be found here."

4 of 12 comments (clear)

  1. I remember by sinserve · · Score: 3, Informative

    I played with this thing a year or so ago.

    Here is what I found out; always inherit from a class slightly higher from the
    standard base class.

    IIRC, there were standard robot types you could extend. But the real *limitations* were
    in the standard type. I remeber inheriting from the parent of the standard class, and
    adding capabilities to it.

    I eventually got bored with it when I couldn't figure java's type system (I am coming
    from C++) I remember trying to "stalk" one other robot, and keeping his coords in static
    member list, then tried to predict his next position and fire at him (taking distance into
    account.)
    but somehow, I could make the static members "persist" as they were supposed, and had them
    get corrupted rather easily.

    --

  2. Re:Sounds like CoreWar to me by zero_offset · · Score: 3, Informative
    CoreWar variants and TONS of other programming games can be found here:

    http://tpga.virtualave.net/game-links.htm

    If you're a Microsoft type, MS is running a .NET "artificial life" sort of thing here:

    http://www.gotdotnet.com/terrarium/

    --

    Slashdot quality declines as the number of hot grits posts decreases. - Provolt's Law, Apr-09-2005

  3. realtimebattle by RisingSon · · Score: 3, Informative

    We play Real Time Battle at work sometimes.

    Its pretty much exactly the same thing, except it used stdin/stdout so you can write your robot in your favorite language - C++, Java, perl, bash, whatever. I think development on RTB is pretty much dead, though. But its still fun.

  4. Try Intergalactics robots. by Axiom · · Score: 4, Informative

    Another great Java "robot" platform is Intergalactics. Here, you right computer players for a risk-based strategy game. The best thing about this is that humans and robots all compete on the same playing field. And, the game is such that robots and humans compete fairly equally. It's pretty fun, and it's an easy API to learn and use.